How is Asperger syndrome named today?

Question

Hi doctor,

I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when I was 13 years of age. I am 22 now. How does the DSM-5 change that disorder?

Answer 1

Hi,

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Asperger was previously regarded as a separate disorder, but now it is categorized as a form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder). ASD includes,

Autism.
Asperger disorder.
Childhood disintegrative disorder.
Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

By the current DSM-5 criteria, individuals previously diagnosed with Asperger syndrome would be diagnosed as having ASD without language or intellectual impairment. This is because; previously when Asperger was introduced in 1994, it was distinguished from autistic disorders as there was no delay in language and general cognition. But now it is put under autism spectrum disorders because there is no evidence of different response to treatment or of a distinct cause in Asperger syndrome versus high-functioning autism. Previously Asperger's was diagnosed only if they did not meet the criteria of autistic disorder, so to resolve this confusion both were kept under the same umbrella of ASD.